Aave Labs has completed the liquidation of the Kelp DAO attacker’s remaining rsETH collateral on Ethereum and Arbitrum, marking a concrete step in the DeFi United recovery plan to fully back rsETH and compensate affected users. Aave described the move as a “critical step,” with the liquidated collateral now routed to Recovery Guardian, a multisignature wallet overseen by DeFi United. Aave’s update on X notes that user funds were not touched in this process and that its Umbrella insurance mechanism was not activated.

With the latest liquidation, DeFi United estimates it is roughly 10% short of the ETH needed to restore full rsETH backing, according to Thaddeus Pinakiewicz, vice president of Galaxy Digital’s research team. The recovery plan has continued to hinge on securing additional ETH commitments and on governance decisions that can unlock the remaining liquidity for rsETH holders. The Kelp DAO attack in mid-April, which exploited about $293 million, has reverberated through the DeFi lending sector and raised questions about the resilience of cross-chain recovery efforts.

Aave stressed that the liquidation reduces liquidity risk without endangering user funds, and it reiterated that its automated protection for bad debt, Umbrella, was not invoked in this step. The development comes as DeFi United moves toward a broader funding package and a mix of on-chain and off-chain governance actions aimed at restoring rsETH’s collateralization and legitimacy.

Key takeaways

• 13,000 ETH liquidated from the attacker’s collateral on Ethereum and Arbitrum would be released to Recovery Guardian, a DeFi United multisignature wallet, equating to roughly $30.2 million at current prices.
• Approximately 30,765 ETH remain frozen by Arbitrum DAO in “legal limbo” after a restraining notice was filed by US law firm Gerstein Harrow LLP to prevent redistribution. Aave has filed an emergency motion to vacate the restraining notice.
• Arbitrum DAO voting on the release of frozen ETH to the DeFi United fund shows overwhelming support — more than 90% in favor — with the vote closing on Friday.
• DeFi United is seeking commitments from Circle, Ethena, Frax, and Kraken-built Ethereum layer 2 Ink to “get it over the line and plug the hole,” according to project backers.
• Aave’s total value locked (TVL) has stopped its steep decline, with DefiLlama data showing a rebound above the $15 billion level after a period of outsized outflows tied to the Kelp DAO incident.

Recovery progress and the rsETH restoration plan

The liquidation of the attacker’s rsETH collateral on both Ethereum and Arbitrum represents a tangible step toward reinforcing the rsETH backstop. By transferring the collateral to Recovery Guardian, DeFi United aims to create a more predictable path for restitution to affected users and to reestablish the integrity of rsETH’s staking framework. While the total value of the liquidated portion sits in transit, observers are watching closely for the next tranche of ETH required to complete the backing.

Thaddeus Pinakiewicz of Galaxy Digital’s research team framed the current status as a near-term milestone rather than a finished cure. “DeFi United is roughly 10% short of the ETH needed to restore full rsETH backing,” he noted, underscoring how the plan’s success hinges on securing a relatively small but crucial slice of liquidity from the broader ecosystem. The remaining 30,765 ETH, currently frozen by Arbitrum DAO, illustrates the enduring tension between on-chain recovery mechanics and legal/organizational processes that govern cross-chain assets in crisis scenarios.

Legal contours, governance and the path forward

The legal dimension of the Kelp DAO incident remains a key obstacle. The restraining notice filed by Gerstein Harrow LLP aims to prevent redistribution of the frozen ETH while the matter unfolds in court, creating a “legal limbo” that could delay the final recovery steps. In response, Aave has lodged an emergency motion to vacate the restraining notice, signaling active legal maneuvering from the recovering coalition.

Meanwhile, Arbitrum DAO is in the thick of a governance vote about releasing the frozen ETH to the DeFi United fund. With more than 90% of participating voters in favor, the outcome could unlock a significant portion of the collateral needed to underpin rsETH. The vote is set to close on Friday, and the decision will test the DAO’s ability to balance fiduciary duty with the broader goal of DeFi resilience. For some observers, the situation also underscores the evolving role of DAOs in crisis response and the potential regulatory scrutiny that can accompany large-scale cross-chain fund movements.

Beyond the immediate goal of rsETH restoration, DeFi United has earmarked a broader set of commitments that could shape the recovery’s speed and effectiveness. The coalition is courting backing from Circle, Ethena, Frax, and Kraken’s Ethereum layer 2 solution Ink. Securing these commitments would help to “plug the hole” and accelerate the path back to a fully collateralized rsETH, while also signaling a willingness among major stablecoin issuers and L2 ecosystems to stand behind DeFi’s recovery efforts during a stress event.

Market impact and ecosystem resilience

The Kelp DAO incident remains among the most consequential hacks of 2026, with the initial shock driving a broad unwind across DeFi lending protocols. Aave’s TVL declined sharply as the attacker collateralized rsETH to borrow wrapped Ether, triggering a cascade of withdrawals and more than $190 million in bad debt on the platform. In the weeks that followed, DefiLlama’s data shows that net outflows from Aave’s lending markets have begun to ease, and the protocol’s total value locked has rebounded from its local trough to sit above the $15 billion mark again.

This rebound is not a victory lap. The episode exposed structural vulnerabilities in DeFi lending and cross-chain collateral arrangements, especially when attacker assets are pledged to secure new loans. The current recovery push—backed by on-chain governance, legal processes, and strategic partnerships with major stablecoins and L2 infrastructure—could shape how the market assesses risk and contingency planning in the months ahead. For borrowers and lenders alike, the episode reinforces the importance of rigorous collateralization, transparent governance, and robust rescue frameworks when incidents test the integrity of a protocol’s backstops.

As the governance process unfolds and the legal questions are resolved, investors and users should watch closely how quickly DeFi United can assemble the remainder of the ETH and how the community and regulators respond to the coordinated release of frozen assets. The balance between restoring rsETH’s credibility and maintaining prudent risk controls will likely influence funding, liquidity incentives, and the broader appetite for DeFi risk in the near term.

Readers should monitor updates from Aave, Arbitrum DAO, and DeFi United as the Friday vote concludes and as Circle, Ethena, Frax, and Ink’s involvement firm up. The outcome will help determine not only the fate of rsETH but also the broader precedent for crisis response in decentralized finance.

Key Takeaways

• Strategy’s announcement about possible Bitcoin sales triggered a minor pullback in BTC price
• Bitcoin continues trading near $81,421, marking a three-month peak
• Weekly gains stand at 9%, while Bitcoin has surged 26% from late March lows
• Optimism around potential U.S.-Iran diplomatic breakthrough lifted market confidence
• Critical support zone established at $80,000, with upside barrier around $82,750

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Bitcoin experienced a modest retreat from recent peak levels following Strategy’s disclosure that it might liquidate a portion of its Bitcoin reserves. The announcement temporarily dampened the cryptocurrency’s impressive weekly performance.

As of this writing, Bitcoin was changing hands around $81,421, showing minimal daily movement while maintaining price levels last observed in late January 2026.

The digital asset has climbed approximately 9% throughout the previous seven-day period and recorded a substantial 26% appreciation since March’s conclusion. This upward trajectory has been characterized by steady progression and subdued volatility, factors that market observers believe have attracted additional market participants.

Trade Nation’s senior market analyst David Morrison highlighted the momentum behind Bitcoin’s advance. “Bitcoin has demonstrated remarkable strength, displaying consistent, low-volatility upward movement that has served to stimulate additional purchasing activity,” Morrison explained. He identified moderate price support in the vicinity of $80,000, with more substantial backing positioned near $75,000.

Crypto analyst Daan Crypto highlighted on social platforms that Bitcoin has reclaimed its position above the Bull Market Support Band—a development not witnessed in half a year. He emphasized that confirmation of this breakout and possible trend shift hinges on the weekly candle’s closing position.

Geopolitical Developments Boost Market Confidence

Market risk appetite received a boost earlier when news emerged regarding progress in U.S.-Iran diplomatic discussions aimed at resolving ongoing tensions. According to Axios, the White House was approaching completion of a brief memorandum of understanding addressing nuclear enrichment activities and sanctions reduction.

The Wall Street Journal provided additional details, describing the framework as a 14-point arrangement that would permit one additional month for continued negotiations. President Trump validated the agreement’s general framework through social media posts, cautioning that military operations would recommence should Iran decline the proposal.

Iranian foreign ministry officials indicated they were examining the proposal and would communicate their response via Pakistani intermediaries.

Key Technical Price Zones

Bitcoin reached an intraday peak of $82,790 before entering a consolidation pattern. The cryptocurrency presently maintains its position above the 100-hour moving average alongside a constructive trend line providing support near $80,850.

Should BTC sustain levels above $81,500, subsequent resistance points emerge at $82,750 followed by $83,500. A decisive breakthrough above $82,750 could pave the way toward $84,200 or potentially $85,000.

Regarding downside scenarios, failure to maintain the $80,200 threshold might trigger movement toward $78,850, a level that corresponds with the 50% Fibonacci retracement from the recent low point of $74,940.

John Bollinger, the developer of the widely-used Bollinger Bands indicator, announced via social media that his proprietary trend model for Bitcoin has shifted to positive territory, with his Tactica algorithm now holding a complete position in BTC.

Representative James Baird won the Republican primary for Indiana’s 4th Congressional District, keeping his reelection campaign on track before the 2026 midterms. 

Decision Desk HQ data showed Baird ahead with 35,805 votes, or 60.28%, while Craig Haggard had 18,256 votes, or 30.73%. John Piper followed with 5,340 votes.

The race drew attention from the crypto sector because Baird received support from Defend American Jobs, a political action committee linked to Fairshake. Crypto.news reported that the PAC spent about $514,000 on media buys to support Baird before the Indiana primary.

Crypto PAC money enters the race

Defend American Jobs backed Baird after he supported crypto-related legislation in Congress. Crypto.news reported that Stand With Crypto rated him as strongly supportive of digital assets after his votes on the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act.

Fairshake has become one of the most active crypto-funded groups in U.S. politics. A Fairshake spokesperson said, “Representative Baird has been a proven leader for pro-job, pro-consumer, and pro-innovation policies in Congress.” The group said it supports candidates who back responsible digital asset regulation.

Meanwhile, the Indiana result comes as crypto groups prepare for a larger role in the 2026 midterm elections. Crypto.news reported that Fairshake and AI-focused PACs have already deployed more than $100 million into midterm races.

At the same time, public trust remains mixed. A Public First poll cited by crypto.news found that 45% of Americans viewed crypto investing as too risky. The same report said 44% of respondents believed AI was moving too fast.

Baird also received an endorsement from Donald Trump. AP reported that Trump-backed candidates performed strongly in several Indiana Republican races, showing how national political spending and endorsements shaped local contests.

CLARITY Act debate stays in focus

Baird’s win comes as Congress weighs digital asset rules, including the CLARITY Act. Crypto.news reported that Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks reached a compromise on stablecoin yield, but banking groups later pushed back against the text.

The compromise would block passive stablecoin yield that acts like bank interest while allowing rewards linked to platform activity. Crypto firms see the deal as a possible path for the bill, while banking groups argue it still leaves room for deposit outflows.

The Indiana primary shows how crypto policy has become part of campaign strategy. Baird’s win gives the sector another preferred candidate heading into November, while the stablecoin and market structure debates continue in Washington.

Stablecoins are more likely to go mainstream if adopted by major technology companies, a shift Bitwise says could help push the market closer to a projected $4 trillion by the end of the decade.

Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan said on Tuesday that DoorDash and Meta’s recent use of stablecoins for payments in limited projects is likely “the real killer app of stablecoins.” 

“On a relative basis, these are not a big deal. Both are pilot projects and the dollar amounts are small,” Hougan wrote. “But they’ve answered a question I’ve had about stablecoins for a long time. They’ve also increased my confidence that stablecoins will scale to trillions in assets and hundreds of millions of users.”

Multiple large non-crypto institutions have been testing stablecoin technology. Meta on Thursday launched stablecoin payouts for creators in the Philippines and Colombia, while the food delivery app DoorDash said on April 21 it would offer stablecoin payments to its users, workers and merchants.

The market value of all stablecoins is currently just under $318 billion, but Hougan said projections, such as one from Citigroup in September, say the market could grow to $4 trillion by 2030 in a best-case scenario.

Matt Hougan, pictured at Bitcoin 2026. Source: YouTube

“To get there, stablecoins will have to expand beyond their current primary use case of crypto trading and be embraced for everyday activity, like payments,” Hougan said. “To really scale to hundreds of millions of users, stablecoins are going to need the support of very large players.”

He said that the current pitch to businesses about stablecoins is that they are cheaper and faster, but another main reason multinational companies would adopt the technology is to simplify their global payments infrastructure.

Related: Stablecoin firms have a $112B additional opportunity in LATAM remittance

“Stablecoins make global payments simple,” he argued. “One wallet address, no banking infrastructure, no currency conversions. For a global business managing millions of micropayments, that type of simplicity is worth a lot.”

Companies in the US have been more confident in testing stablecoins after Congress passed the GENIUS Act last year, a bill regulating stablecoin issuers and forming a framework for how the tokens should be backed.

Visa is among the companies that have adopted stablecoins, and the payments giant expanded its pilot of the tokens on Thursday to include five more blockchains as the volume of settlements on its stablecoin settlement network has grown.

US banks have meanwhile grown wary of stablecoins and have lobbied to restrict them, arguing they compete with and threaten bank deposits, which could harm the banking system.

The Senate is shaping legislation outlining how crypto will be regulated, which currently includes a clause banning platforms such as crypto exchanges from paying rewards on idle stablecoin holdings, but allowing other forms of rewards.

However, banking groups on Tuesday argued the clause that lawmakers pitched as a compromise between crypto and banking lobbyists’ interests, did not go far enough.

Magazine: GENIUS Act reopens the door for a Meta stablecoin, but will it work?

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

Aave Labs has liquidated the Kelp DAO attacker’s remaining rsETH positions on Ethereum and Arbitrum, moving one step closer to fully restoring rsETH backing and compensating affected users. 

This marks a “critical step” in the “DeFi United” recovery plan, Aave posted on X on Wednesday. It added that the liquidated collateral tied to the $293 million exploit on April 18 was transferred to Recovery Guardian, a multisignature wallet managed by DeFi United. 

DeFi United is now only about 10% short of the Ether (ETH) needed to restore the Kelp DAO restaked ETH (rsETH) token, according to Thaddeus Pinakiewicz, vice president of Galaxy Digital’s research team.

The Kelp DAO exploit has been one of the most devastating crypto hacks in 2026, causing a ripple effect throughout the DeFi lending market that disrupted billions of dollars in liquidity and eroded confidence across the ecosystem.

Aave said user funds weren’t affected by the liquidations and that Aave’s insurance mechanism to provide automated protection against bad debt — Umbrella — wasn’t used.

Source: Aave

Aave said on April 28 that clearing up the hacker’s collateral on Ethereum and Arbitrum would release 13,000 Ether worth nearly $30.2 million at current prices.

Pinakiewicz, however, noted that there is another 30,765 ETH frozen by Arbitrum DAO that is in “legal limbo” after US law firm, Gerstein Harrow LLP, filed a restraining notice on Friday to prevent Arbitrum DAO from redistributing the frozen ETH. In response, Aave filed an emergency motion to vacate that restraining notice.

Meanwhile, members of Arbitrum DAO are still voting on whether to release the frozen ETH to the DeFi United fund, with over 90% of voters in favor of the proposal. Voting set to close on Friday.

Related: Three reasons why Ether price rallies fizzle near $2.4K 

DeFi United is also awaiting commitments from stablecoin issuers Circle, Ethena and Frax, as well as Kraken-built Ethereum layer 2 Ink.

Aave needs these commitments to “get it over the line and plug the hole,” Pinakiewicz said.

Aave’s TVL bleeding has stopped

Aave was hit hard by the Kelp DAO exploit, with its total value locked falling by nearly $12 billion in a week after the hacker put the stolen rsETH tokens up as collateral on its lending platform to borrow wrapped Ether, leaving more than $190 million in bad debt and triggering a wave of withdrawals.  

DefiLlama data shows that net outflows from Aave’s lending markets have eased over the past week, with the protocol’s total value locked increasing from a local low of $14.2 billion on April 26 to back above the $15 billion mark.

Aave’s change in TVL in 2026. Source: DefiLlama

Magazine: AI-driven hacks could kill DeFi — unless projects act now

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

BNY, the world’s largest custodian overseeing $59 trillion of assets, is expanding its digital asset custody business to the United Arab Emirates through local partners.

According to a Thursday press release, the global financial services giant is working with Finstreet and ADI Foundation to build regulated digital asset infrastructure anchored in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the financial free zone in Abu Dhabi that has become a hub for crypto firms and blockchain projects entering the Middle East region.

The initiative will initially focus on custody services for cryptocurrencies including bitcoin BTC$82,164.36 and ether (ETH), with plans to later expand into stablecoins and tokenized assets, the press release said.

“The UAE is entering a new phase of financial development, characterized by deeper markets, greater digital sophistication and stronger global connectivity,” Hani Kablawi, executive vice chair at BNY, said in a statement. “With our world-class capabilities and scale across capital markets, BNY is uniquely positioned to connect traditional and digital financial ecosystems in collaboration with our clients.”

BNY’s move reflects a broader push by major financial institutions to bring blockchain technology into mainstream markets beyond crypto trading. Tokenization — the process of representing assets such as bonds, funds and equities on blockchain networks — is gaining traction as firms look for faster settlement, more efficient collateral management and lower operational costs.

The bank’s entry into the UAE also highlights how quickly the Gulf region is emerging as a center for digital asset finance. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have attracted crypto exchanges, stablecoin issuers and tokenization startups with regulatory frameworks designed to support digital assets while maintaining institutional oversight.

BNY’s involvement carries added weight because of the bank’s scale and role in traditional finance. The firm oversees about $59 trillion in assets under custody and administration, making it the world’s largest custodian bank, and was the first major U.S. global systemically important bank to launch digital asset custody services.

The UAE has also pushed deeper into state-backed digital finance initiatives. IHC and other local institutions recently unveiled plans last month for a regulated dirham-backed stablecoin aimed at government and institutional use.

Read more: BNY CEO says the future of crypto runs through big banks

Consensus Miami 2026 officially kicked off with a wave of major announcements across crypto infrastructure, stablecoins, tokenization, payments, AI, and blockchain compliance, reinforcing the industry’s continued push toward institutional adoption and real-world utility.

Several leading companies used Day 1 of the event to unveil new partnerships, acquisitions, and infrastructure initiatives aimed at shaping the next phase of digital assets and decentralized finance.

Bullish Announces $4.2 Billion Equiniti Acquisition

One of the largest announcements came from Bullish, which revealed plans to acquire global transfer agent Equiniti in a transaction valued at approximately $4.2 billion.

The deal aims to position Bullish as a major player in tokenized securities infrastructure and blockchain-native capital markets. The acquisition would combine traditional shareholder services with digital asset infrastructure, signaling increasing convergence between legacy finance and blockchain technology.

According to the announcement, the combined business intends to build infrastructure designed for tokenized equities and digital ownership management at institutional scale.

Kraken and MoneyGram Expand Crypto Cash Access Globally

Kraken and MoneyGram announced a strategic partnership designed to improve global crypto-to-cash accessibility.

The collaboration will allow Kraken users to convert digital assets into fiat currencies through MoneyGram’s international cash pickup network spanning more than 100 countries.

The move highlights growing demand for practical crypto off-ramp solutions as adoption continues expanding across emerging and developed markets alike.

Sumsub and Chainlink Launch Cross-Chain Identity Infrastructure

Compliance and identity verification remained another major theme during Day 1.

Sumsub announced a partnership with Chainlink to support privacy-preserving identity verification across multiple blockchain ecosystems.

The initiative integrates Sumsub’s KYC infrastructure with Chainlink’s Automated Compliance Engine (ACE), enabling reusable identity credentials across networks including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Polygon, and Base.

The solution aims to help institutional and retail participants access compliant on-chain financial services without repeatedly submitting verification information across different platforms.

OwlTing Introduces AI Agent Wallet Infrastructure

Nasdaq-listed OwlTing Group unveiled a self-custody wallet designed specifically for AI agents.

The new platform, called OwlPay Wallet Pro for Agents, is designed to allow AI assistants to manage stablecoins and execute blockchain-based transactions on behalf of users.

The company positioned the product as infrastructure for the emerging “agentic commerce” economy, where autonomous AI systems increasingly interact with financial services and payment networks.

GoMining Expands Bitcoin Utility Initiatives

GoMining made multiple announcements during the event, including plans to integrate with Babylon Labs and the launch of GoBTC.

The Babylon integration aims to enable Bitcoin holders to earn mining rewards through trustless vault infrastructure without giving up custody of their BTC.

Meanwhile, GoBTC was introduced as a payment-focused protocol intended to support instant Bitcoin transactions directly on Bitcoin’s base layer. The company stated that the protocol is designed to reduce settlement times and lower merchant processing costs compared to traditional payment systems.

Stablecoin Infrastructure Continues Expanding

Several announcements throughout the day highlighted continued momentum around stablecoin infrastructure and real-world payment adoption.

Figo launched a stablecoin-powered USD payments platform operating across more than 50 countries, targeting emerging markets where access to dollar-based financial infrastructure remains limited.

Meanwhile, Bamboo Block announced plans to accelerate stablecoin payment adoption among U.S. community banks ahead of expected regulatory developments surrounding the GENIUS Act.

Solana Trading Infrastructure Evolves

Jito Labs introduced JTX, a self-custodial trading platform built for advanced Solana traders.

The platform aims to bring professional-grade order execution and centralized exchange-style trading functionality directly on-chain while maintaining user custody of assets.

The announcement reflects growing competition among blockchain ecosystems to attract more sophisticated trading activity and institutional participation.

Consensus Miami Reflects Growing Institutional Momentum

Day 1 of Consensus Miami demonstrated how quickly the crypto industry is evolving beyond speculative trading into broader infrastructure, compliance, payments, tokenization, and enterprise applications.

Themes such as real-world assets, stablecoins, AI integration, institutional compliance, and blockchain-based financial infrastructure dominated many of the announcements across the event.

As Consensus Miami continues throughout the week, additional announcements and partnerships are expected from major players across the digital asset ecosystem.